Engineering endurance

The MSU Formula Racing team unveiled its new race car on Monday after more than a year of design, construction and testing. The green and white race car, No.

Support for affirmative action ban drops in poll

Voters are less likely to vote in favor of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, when the proposal language states it will "ban affirmative action programs," a research company discovered. The MCRI proposal will end preferential treatment for minorities in government and university programs if it's passed in the November election.

Lansing Council approves budget

Lansing has been getting more than its fair share of rain over the past few days, but the city's "rainy day fund" is shrinking. The fund, which consists of money the city has saved during prosperous times, can be used to bridge budget deficits during an economic downturn to ensure continuous government services.

Police briefs 05/17/06

WEB EXTRA: Candidates file for seats in Congress

The list of candidates running for Michigan's seats in Congress is final after politicians filed their papers before the deadline expired Tuesday afternoon.

Celebrating Sparty

Prancing around MSU sports games, spending quality time with the community or just hanging out at the library, Sparty is everywhere. And the Mascot Hall of Fame may be the next place he'll be hanging out.

Potter Park Zoo's Rhino Walk to be held June 17

Potter Park Zoo in Lansing will hold its annual 5K Rhino Walk/Run and 1K Kid's Race on June 17. The run, sponsored by the Potter Park Zoological Society, will raise money for the zoo.

E.L. City Council set to vote on budget tonight

The East Lansing City Council will vote on the 2006-2007 budget at 7:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 410 Abbott Road. Because the process went smoothly, Mayor Sam Singh will present council members and finance staff with cigars and chocolate. Highlights from the budget include a pay increase of 2 percent for employees, keeping the cost of health insurance low, restoring 1 percent of the general fund for expenditures for social service agencies and more money for sidewalks. The budget didn't call for any layoffs, cuts to city services or dipping into financial reserves.

Ride to commemorate cyclists on Wednesday

The Ride of Silence, an event that commemorates those who have died or have been injured while cycling, will begin at 7 p.m.

Dioxins, PCBs to be studied

The Center for Integrative Toxicology received a $16-million grant from the federal government's Superfund Basic Research Program to study a group of chemicals linked with cancer and birth defects. The program, which is administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, will fund the research for the next five years.

Police briefs 05/16/06

Police briefs 05/15/06

Campus quiets down for summer

Silence filled the kiva, the classrooms and most of the hallways in McDonel Hall on Sunday afternoon. On the eve of the first day of summer classes, a fraction of the number of students who would be on campus August through April were settling into their dorm rooms and preparing for a quiet summer. McDonel and Owen Graduate halls are the only dormitories housing summer semester students for the next couple of months. Business and general management sophomore Jamie Clements is looking forward to the summer silence. "I'm here because it's quieter," he said. Clements is embarking on his first summer at MSU and plans to enjoy being away from home and having fewer students on campus.

GM discontinues production of H1 Hummer vehicle

People in the market for a Hummer will soon have one less option for their off-road excursions. The 4-ton H1 Hummer, introduced in 1992 as a civilian version of the U.S.

Bouchard announces his candidacy for U.S. Senate

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard has officially added his name to the list of Republicans who want to challenge U.S.

Gov. goes to Japan, seeks development

Gov. Jennifer Granholm left for a trip to Japan on Sunday as part of what she called an investment mission to bring more jobs by foreign businesses to Michigan. Granholm will stay in Japan for three days to talk to business leaders, said Granholm's spokeswoman Heidi Hansen. In her weekly radio address, Granholm said she will meet with 19 companies in Japan that could benefit Michigan. Granholm also said meeting with business leaders could convince companies to come to Michigan. "Japan might be half a world away, but the results of our previous investment mission can be seen in communities all across the state," Granholm said in the address. After the governor's 2005 trade trip there, 10 Japanese companies said they would be expanding in Michigan with investments of $116 million.

Officials to decide college's name

The new residential college in the arts and humanities already has an acting dean selected and its curriculum approved — but no official name. University officials said the college won't receive a formal name anytime soon, since it won't open for another 16 months, but they are looking at options. "It probably is, at this point, just important to give it some time and spend some time thinking about it because once colleges are named, they don't very often get renamed," said June Youatt, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies. Construction begins May 8 on the residential college, which will be housed in Snyder and Phillips halls.

Nazi rally costs add up

The April 22 neo-Nazi rally cost the Michigan State Police and Lansing police a total of $258,390.55, most of which was related to overtime expenses for police officers. In addition, the city-sponsored diversity rally cost about $13,000 to hold, said Randy Hannan, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Virg Bernero. About $5,000 of that money will be paid for through private fundraising, with the rest paid by the city of Lansing, Hannan said. "It was worth every penny," Hannan said.

WEB EXTRA: Mich. residents to march for American dream

Citizens from across the state of Michigan will meet at the Capitol building at 2 p.m. on Saturday to march for the American dream. "The rally is to impress upon our elected officials to stop the outsourcing of American jobs, the need for universal health care, a secure life for our senior citizens and a better future for our children and grandchildren," said organizer Art Reyes, of Flint.

WEB EXTRA: The State News sits down with MSU's senior diversity advisor for Q&A

This school year saw racially charged events in residence halls and a growing concern about an initiative that could eliminate affirmative action agencies. As it draws to a close, many on campus hope the issues they have highlighted will continue to spark dialogue in the MSU community. Paulette Granberry Russell is one of those people. As the senior advisor to MSU President Lou Anna K.